Samoan plant names
Encyclopedia
These are some Samoan plant names in alphabetical order in the Samoan language
and their corresponding descriptions in English
.
Many are used in traditional medicines in the Samoa Islands comprising Samoa
and American Samoa
.
Samoan language
Samoan Samoan Samoan (Gagana Sāmoa, is the language of the Samoan Islands, comprising the independent country of Samoa and the United States territory of American Samoa. It is an official language—alongside English—in both jurisdictions. Samoan, a Polynesian language, is the first language for most...
and their corresponding descriptions in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Many are used in traditional medicines in the Samoa Islands comprising Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
and American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
.
| Samoan name | Scientific name | Plant Family | English name |
| A'atasi | Rorippa sarmentosa | Brassicaceae Brassicaceae Brassicaceae, a medium sized and economically important family of flowering plants , are informally known as the mustards, mustard flowers, the crucifers or the cabbage family.... (Mustard Family) |
Polynesian cress |
| Ago | Curcuma longa | Zingiberaceae Zingiberaceae Zingiberaceae, or the Ginger family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of aromatic perennial herbs with creeping horizontal or tuberous rhizomes, comprising ca. 52 genera and more than 1300 species, distributed throughout tropical Africa, Asia, and the Americas.Many species are important... (Ginger Family) |
Turmeric |
| Aloalo, also Aloalo fanua, Aloalo sami | Premna serratifolia Premna serratifolia Premna serratifolia is a small shrub in the Lamiaceae family.... |
Verbenaceae Verbenaceae Verbenaceae, commonly known as the verbena family or vervain family, is a family of mainly tropical flowering plants. It contains trees, shrubs and herbs notable for heads, spikes, or clusters of small flowers, many of which have an aromatic smell.Recent phylogenetic studies have shown that... (Verbena Family) |
|
| Aloalo tai | Clerdendrum inerme | Verbenaceae Verbenaceae Verbenaceae, commonly known as the verbena family or vervain family, is a family of mainly tropical flowering plants. It contains trees, shrubs and herbs notable for heads, spikes, or clusters of small flowers, many of which have an aromatic smell.Recent phylogenetic studies have shown that... (Verbena Family) |
|
| Aloalo vao | Mussaenda raiateensis | Rubiaceae Rubiaceae The Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants, variously called the coffee family, madder family, or bedstraw family. The group contains many commonly known plants, including the economically important coffee , quinine , and gambier , and the horticulturally valuable madder , west indian jasmine ,... (Coffee Family) |
|
| Aloe | Aloe vera Aloe vera Aloe vera, pronounced , also known as the true aloe or medicinal aloe, is a species of succulent plant in the genus Aloe that is believed to have originated in the Sudan. Aloe vera grows in arid climates and is widely distributed in Africa, India, Nepal and other arid areas.The species is... |
Agavaceae Agavaceae Agavoideae is a subfamily of monocot flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, order Asparagales. It has previously been treated as a separate family, Agavaceae. The group includes many well-known desert and dry zone types such as the agave, yucca, and Joshua tree... (Yucca Family) |
Aloe vera |
| Aoa | Ficus obliqua Ficus obliqua Ficus obliqua, commonly known as the Small-leaved Fig, a tree in the family Moraceae native to eastern Australia. It is a banyan of the genus Ficus which contains around 750 species worldwide in warm climates, including the edible fig... |
Moraceae Moraceae Moraceae — often called the mulberry family or fig family — are a family of flowering plants comprising about 40 genera and over 1000 species. Most are widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, less so in temperate climates... (Mulberry Family) |
Polynesian banyan Banyan A banyan is a fig that starts its life as an epiphyte when its seeds germinate in the cracks and crevices on a host tree... , strangler fig |
| ''ʻApu Initia (Indian apple) | Anacardium occidentale | Anacardiaceae Anacardiaceae Anacardiaceae are a family of flowering plants bearing fruits that are drupes and in some cases producing urushiol, an irritant. Anacardiaceae include numerous genera with several of economic importance. Notable plants in this family include cashew , mango, poison ivy, sumac, smoke tree, and marula... (Cashew Family) |
Cashew |
| Ateate | Wallastonia biflora | Asteraceae Asteraceae The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies... (Sunflower Family) |
Beach sunflower |
| ''ʻAu'auli | Diospyros samoensis | Ebenaceae Ebenaceae The Ebenaceae are a family of flowering plants, which includes ebony and persimmon. The family has approximately 500 species of trees and shrubs in two genera, Diospyros and Euclea. The species are mostly evergreen and native to the tropics and subtropics, with a few deciduous species native to... |
Samoan ebony |
| ''ʻAute Samoa | Hibiscus rosa-sinensis | Malvaceae Malvaceae Malvaceae, or the mallow family, is a family of flowering plants containing over 200 genera with close to 2,300 species. Judd & al. Well known members of this family include okra, jute and cacao... (Mallow Family) |
Red hibiscus |
| ʻAva Samoa 'ava ceremony The Ava Ceremony is one of the most important customs of the Samoa Islands involving a solemn ritual where a ceremonial beverage is shared to mark most important occasions in Samoan society. The Samoan word ava is a cognate of the Polynesian word kava associated with the kava cultures in Oceania... , ''ʻAva Samoa, kava |
Piper methysticum | Piperaceae Piperaceae The Piperaceae, also known as the pepper family, is a large family of flowering plants. The group contains roughly 3,610 currently accepted species in five genera. The vast majority of peppers can be found within the two main genera: Piper and Peperomia .Members of the Piperaceae may be small... (Pepper Family) |
Kava Kava Kava or kava-kava is a crop of the western Pacific.... |
| ''ʻAvaʻavaaitu | Macropiper puberulum | Piperaceae Piperaceae The Piperaceae, also known as the pepper family, is a large family of flowering plants. The group contains roughly 3,610 currently accepted species in five genera. The vast majority of peppers can be found within the two main genera: Piper and Peperomia .Members of the Piperaceae may be small... (Pepper Family) |
|
| ''ʻAvaʻavaaitu sosolo | |||
| ''ʻAvaʻavaaitu tu | |||
| ''ʻAvapui | Zingiber zerumbet Zingiber zerumbet Zingiber zerumbet Sm., also known as the Shampoo Ginger, is a vigorous ginger with leafy stems growing to about 1.2 m tall. It is found in many tropical countries. The rhizomes of Z... |
Zingiberaceae Zingiberaceae Zingiberaceae, or the Ginger family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of aromatic perennial herbs with creeping horizontal or tuberous rhizomes, comprising ca. 52 genera and more than 1300 species, distributed throughout tropical Africa, Asia, and the Americas.Many species are important... (Ginger Family) |
Wild ginger, shampoo ginger |
| ''ʻAvapui tuasivi | Alpinia samoensis | Zingiberaceae Zingiberaceae Zingiberaceae, or the Ginger family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of aromatic perennial herbs with creeping horizontal or tuberous rhizomes, comprising ca. 52 genera and more than 1300 species, distributed throughout tropical Africa, Asia, and the Americas.Many species are important... |
|
| Esi | Carica papaya | Caricaceae Caricaceae Caricaceae are a family of flowering plants in the order Brassicales, native to tropical regions of Central and South America and Africa. They are short-lived evergreen pachycaul shrubs or small trees growing to 5-10 m tall... (Papaya Family) |
Papaya, pawpaw |
| Faʻi | Musa maclayi Musa maclayi Musa maclayi is a species of seeded banana native to Northern Queensland, Australia. Seeds have not been offered publicly yet.... |
Musaceae Musaceae Musaceae is a botanical name for a family of flowering plants. The family is native to the tropics of Africa and Asia. The plants have a large herbaceous growth habit with leaves with overlapping basal sheaths that form a pseudostem making some members appear to be woody trees.The family has been... (Banana Family) |
Banana, plantain |
| Fala | Pandanus tectorius Pandanus tectorius Pandanus tectorius is a species of Pandanus that is native to Malesia, eastern Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Common names include Thatch Screwpine, Hala , Bacua , and Vacquois .... |
Pandanaceae Pandanaceae Pandanaceae is a family of flowering plants native to the tropics of the Old World. Such a family has been widely recognized by taxonomists.Pandanaceae are trees or climbing or scrambling shrubs distributed in the Old World tropics and are adapted from sea level in salted beaches to mountain cloud... (Screwpine Family) |
Pandanus, screwpine |
| Fau | Hibiscus tiliaceus | Malvaceae Malvaceae Malvaceae, or the mallow family, is a family of flowering plants containing over 200 genera with close to 2,300 species. Judd & al. Well known members of this family include okra, jute and cacao... (Mallow Family) |
Beach hibiscus |
| Fetau | Callophylum inophyllum | Clusiaceae Clusiaceae The Clusiaceae or Guttiferae Juss. is a family of plants formerly including about 37 genera and 1610 species of trees and shrubs, often with milky sap and fruits or capsules for seeds. It is primarily tropical... (Maongosteen Family) |
Calophyllum |
| Filimoto | Flacourtia rukam | Flacourtiaceae Flacourtiaceae Flacourtiaceae is a defunct family of flowering plants whose former members have been scattered to various other families, mostly to Achariaceae, Samydaceae, and Salicaceae. It was so vaguely defined that hardly anything seemed out of place there and it became a dumping ground for odd and anomalous... (Flacourtia Family) |
Indian plum |
| Fisoa | Colubrina asiatica Colubrina asiatica Colubrina asiatica is a shrub in the family Rhamnaceae that is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, from eastern Africa to India, southeast Asia, tropical Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Common names include latherleaf, Asian nakedwood and Asian snakewood.-Description:C... |
Rhamnaceae Rhamnaceae Rhamnaceae, the Buckthorn family, is a large family of flowering plants, mostly trees, shrubs and some vines.The family contains 50-60 genera and approximately 870-900 species. The Rhamnaceae have a worldwide distribution, but are more common in the subtropical and tropical regions... (Buckthorn Family) |
|
| Fiu | Zingiber officinale | Zingiberaceae Zingiberaceae Zingiberaceae, or the Ginger family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of aromatic perennial herbs with creeping horizontal or tuberous rhizomes, comprising ca. 52 genera and more than 1300 species, distributed throughout tropical Africa, Asia, and the Americas.Many species are important... (Ginger Family) |
Ginger |
| Fu'afu'a | Kleinhovia hospita Kleinhovia hospita Kleinhovia hospita is an evergreen, tropical tree native to Indonesia, Malaysia and other parts of tropical Asia. It is monotypic, being the only species in its genus.- Description :... |
Sterculiaceae Sterculiaceae Sterculiaceae is a botanical name for a group of flowering plants at the rank of family, which is now considered obsolete. As is true for any botanical name, the circumscription, status and placement of the taxon has varied with taxonomic point of view... (Cacao Family) |
|
| Fue laufao | Epipremnum pinnatum | Araceae Araceae Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like bract. Also known as the Arum family, members are often colloquially... (Taro Family) |
|
| Fue manogi | Piper graeffei | Piperaceae Piperaceae The Piperaceae, also known as the pepper family, is a large family of flowering plants. The group contains roughly 3,610 currently accepted species in five genera. The vast majority of peppers can be found within the two main genera: Piper and Peperomia .Members of the Piperaceae may be small... (Piper Family) |
|
| Fue moa, Fuefue moa | Ipomoea pes-caprae Ipomoea pes-caprae Ipomoea pes-caprae, also known as Beach Morning Glory or Goat's Foot, is a common pantropical creeping vine belonging to the family Convolvulaceae. It grows on the upper parts of beaches and endures salted air. It is one of the most common and most widely distributed salt tolerant plants and... |
Convolvulaceae Convolvulaceae Convolvulaceae, known commonly as the bindweed or morning glory family, are a group of about 60 genera and more than 1,650 species of mostly herbaceous vines, but also trees, shrubs and herbs.- Description :... (Morning-glory Family) |
Beach morning-glory |
| Fue saina | Mikania micrantha Mikania micrantha Mikania micrantha is a tropical plant in the Asteraceae. It is also known as the Bitter Vine in the Commonwealth of The Northern Marianas Island.... |
Asteraceae Asteraceae The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies... (Sunflower Family) |
Mile-a-minute weed |
| Fue sina | Vigna marina | Fabaceae Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species... (Pea Family) |
Beach pea |
| Futu | Barringtonia asiatica Barringtonia asiatica Barringtonia asiatica is a species of Barringtonia native to mangrove habitats on the tropical coasts and islands of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean from Zanzibar east to Taiwan, the Philippines, Fiji, New Caledonia, the Cook Islands, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia... |
Barringtonia Barringtonia Barringtonia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lecythidaceae. A common name is cornbeefwood.Bengali name is "Hijalna".Species include:* Barringtonia acutangula* Barringtonia asiatica* Barringtonia calyptrata... (Barringtonia Family) |
Fish-poison tree |
| Gatae, Gatae Samoa | Erythrina variegata Erythrina variegata Erythrina variegata is a species of Erythrina native to the tropical and subtropical regions of eastern Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, northern Australia, and the islands of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean east to... |
Fabaceae Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species... (Pea Family) |
Coral tree |
| Ifi | Inocarpus fagifer Inocarpus fagifer Inocarpus fagifer, commonly known as the Tahitian Chestnut, Polynesian Chestnut, Aila or Mape tree, is a species of flowering plant in the subfamily Faboideae of the legume family, Fabaceae... |
Fabaceae Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species... (Pea Family) |
Tahitian chestnut |
| Ifiifi | Atuna racemosa | Chrysobalanaceae Chrysobalanaceae Chrysobalanaceae is a family of trees, shrubs and flowering plants, consisting of 17 genera and about 460 species of leptocaul that grows in the Tropics or is subtropical and common in the Americas... |
|
| Ifilele | Intsia bijuga | Fabaceae Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species... (Pea Family) |
|
| Ku'ava | Psidium guajava Psidium guajava The apple guava or common guava is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America... |
Myrtaceae Myrtaceae The Myrtaceae or Myrtle family are a family of dicotyledon plants, placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, clove, guava, feijoa, allspice, and eucalyptus belong here. All species are woody, with essential oils, and flower parts in multiples of four or five... (Myrtle Family) |
Guava |
| La'au fai lafa | Senna alata Senna alata Senna alata, the Candle Bush, is an important medicinal tree as well as an ornamental flowering plants in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It also known as a Candelabra Bush, Empress Candle Plant, Ringworm Tree or "candletree"... |
Fabaceae Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species... (Pea Family) |
Dandlebush, acapulco |
| Laga'ali | Aglaia samoensis Aglaia samoensis Aglaia samoensis is a species of plant in the Meliaceae family.It is found in American Samoa, West Papua , Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna Islands.-Source:... |
Meliaceae Meliaceae The Meliaceae, or the Mahogany family, is a flowering plant family of mostly trees and shrubs in the order Sapindales.... (Mahogany Family) |
|
| Lama | Aleurites molucana | Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae, the Spurge family are a large family of flowering plants with 300 genera and around 7,500 species. Most are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are also shrubs or trees. Some are succulent and resemble cacti.... (Spurge Family) |
Candlenut |
| Lau mafiafia | Hoya australis Hoya australis Hoya australis, commonly known as the Waxvine or Common waxflower, is one of the species in the genus Hoya. It is a vine found on rainforest margins and rocky areas, and occurs in eastern and northern Australia, from the Northern Territory though coastal Queensland from Cape York to northern New... |
Asclepiadaceae Asclepiadaceae According to APG II, the Asclepiadaceae is a former plant family now treated as a subfamily in the Apocynaceae... (Milkweed Family) |
Wax plant |
| Lau pata, Lau papata, Pata | Macaranga harveyana | Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae, the Spurge family are a large family of flowering plants with 300 genera and around 7,500 species. Most are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are also shrubs or trees. Some are succulent and resemble cacti.... (Spurge Family) |
|
| Lau ti, Ti | Cordyline fruticosa | Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae, the Spurge family are a large family of flowering plants with 300 genera and around 7,500 species. Most are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are also shrubs or trees. Some are succulent and resemble cacti.... (Spurge Family) |
Also used in Samoan massage (fofo) |
| Leva | Cerbera manghas Cerbera manghas Cerbera manghas is a small evergreen coastal tree growing up 12 m tall. The shiny dark-green leaves are alternate, ovoid in shape. The flowers are fragrant, possessing a white tubular 5 lobed corolla about 3 to 5 cm in diameter, with a pink to red throat. They have 5 stamens and the ovary is... |
Apocynaceae Apocynaceae The Apocynaceae or dogbane family is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas.Many species are tall trees found in tropical rainforests, and most are from the tropics and subtropics, but some grow in tropical dry, xeric environments. There are also perennial herbs... (Dogbane Family) |
|
| Ma'anunu | Tarenna sambucina | Rubiaceae Rubiaceae The Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants, variously called the coffee family, madder family, or bedstraw family. The group contains many commonly known plants, including the economically important coffee , quinine , and gambier , and the horticulturally valuable madder , west indian jasmine ,... (Coffee Family) |
|
| Magele | Trema cannabina | Ulmaceae Ulmaceae Ulmaceae is a family of flowering plant that includes the elms , and the zelkovas . Members of the family are widely distributed throughout the north temperate zone, and have a scattered distribution elsewhere except for Australasia.The family was formerly sometimes treated to include the... (Elm Family) |
|
| Mago | Mangifera indica Mangifera indica Mangifera indica is a species of mango in the Anacardiaceae family. It is found in the wild in India and cultivated varieties have been introduced to other warm regions of the world... |
Anacardiaceae Anacardiaceae Anacardiaceae are a family of flowering plants bearing fruits that are drupes and in some cases producing urushiol, an irritant. Anacardiaceae include numerous genera with several of economic importance. Notable plants in this family include cashew , mango, poison ivy, sumac, smoke tree, and marula... (Cashew Family) |
|
| Makerita | Targetes erecta | Asteraceae Asteraceae The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies... (Sunflower Family) |
African marigold |
| Mamala | Omalanthus nutans | Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae, the Spurge family are a large family of flowering plants with 300 genera and around 7,500 species. Most are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are also shrubs or trees. Some are succulent and resemble cacti.... (Splurge Family) |
|
| Masame | Glochidion ramiflorum | Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae, the Spurge family are a large family of flowering plants with 300 genera and around 7,500 species. Most are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are also shrubs or trees. Some are succulent and resemble cacti.... (Splurge Family) |
|
| Matalafi | Psychotria insularum Psychotria insularum Psychotria insularum is a South American rainforest understory shrub from the coffee family, Rubiaceae.... |
Rubiaceae Rubiaceae The Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants, variously called the coffee family, madder family, or bedstraw family. The group contains many commonly known plants, including the economically important coffee , quinine , and gambier , and the horticulturally valuable madder , west indian jasmine ,... (Coffee Family) |
|
| Mati | Ficus tinctoria Ficus tinctoria Ficus tinctoria, the Dye Fig, Humped Fig.Member of the family Moraceae A small, medium sized tree with smooth, oval green leaves. The small rust brown fruit of the dye fig are the source of a red dye used in traditional fabric making in parts of Oceania and Indonesia. The fruit is also used for... |
Moraceae Moraceae Moraceae — often called the mulberry family or fig family — are a family of flowering plants comprising about 40 genera and over 1000 species. Most are widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, less so in temperate climates... (Mulberry Family) |
Dyer's fig |
| Mautofu | Sida rhombifolia Sida rhombifolia Sida rhombifolia is a perennial or sometimes annual plant in the Family Malvaceae, native to the New World tropics and subtropics. Other common names include Paddy’s lucerne, jelly leaf, and also somewhat confusingly as Cuban jute, Queensland hemp, and Indian hemp Sida rhombifolia (Arrowleaf... |
Malvaceae Malvaceae Malvaceae, or the mallow family, is a family of flowering plants containing over 200 genera with close to 2,300 species. Judd & al. Well known members of this family include okra, jute and cacao... (Mallow Family) |
Broom weed |
| Mau'utoga | Commelina diffusa Commelina diffusa Commelina diffusa, sometimes known as the climbing dayflower or spreading dayflower, is a pantropical herbaceous plant in the dayflower family. It has been introduced to the southeastern United States where it is most common in wet disturbed soils. There are two recognised varieties, one being the... |
Commelinaceae Commelinaceae Commelinaceae is a family of flowering plants. In less formal contexts, the group is referred to as the dayflower family or spiderwort family. It is one of five families in the order Commelinales and by far the largest of these with an estimated 650 species in 40 genera. Well known genera include... (Spiderwort Family) |
Day flower |
| Milo | Thespesia populnea | Malvaceae Malvaceae Malvaceae, or the mallow family, is a family of flowering plants containing over 200 genera with close to 2,300 species. Judd & al. Well known members of this family include okra, jute and cacao... (Mallow Family) |
Milo, Pacific roseword |
| Moegalo | Cympobogon citratus | Poaceae Poaceae The Poaceae is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called grasses, although the term "grass" is also applied to plants that are not in the Poaceae lineage, including the rushes and sedges... (Grass Family) |
Lemon grass |
| Moli'aina | Citrus sinensis | Rutaceae Rutaceae Rutaceae, commonly known as the rue or citrus family, is a family of flowering plants, usually placed in the order Sapindales.Species of the family generally have flowers that divide into four or five parts, usually with strong scents... (Citrus Family) |
Orange, sweet orange |
| Moso'oi | Cananga odorata | Annonaceae Annonaceae Annonaceae, also called the custard apple familyis a family of flowering plants consisting of trees, shrubs or rarely lianas.With about 2300 to 2500 species and more than 130 genera,... (Soursop Family) |
Perfume tree, ilangilang |
| Namulega | Vitex trifolia Vitex trifolia Vitex trifolia is a large coastal shrub or small tree.-Description:Vitex trifolia is a large coastal shrub or small tree, less than 5 m in height with the stems covered by soft hairs . The leaves are oppositely arranged along the stems and are usually compound, composed of 3 linear leaflets which... |
Verbenaceae Verbenaceae Verbenaceae, commonly known as the verbena family or vervain family, is a family of mainly tropical flowering plants. It contains trees, shrubs and herbs notable for heads, spikes, or clusters of small flowers, many of which have an aromatic smell.Recent phylogenetic studies have shown that... (Verbena Family) |
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| Niu | Cocos nucifera | Arecaceae Arecaceae Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates... (Palm Family) |
Coconut |
| Nonu, Nonu togianonu | Morinda citrifolia | Rubiaceae Rubiaceae The Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants, variously called the coffee family, madder family, or bedstraw family. The group contains many commonly known plants, including the economically important coffee , quinine , and gambier , and the horticulturally valuable madder , west indian jasmine ,... (Coffee Family) |
Indian mulberry |
| Nonu 'ai, Nonu fi'afi'a | Syzygium malaccense | Myrtaceae Myrtaceae The Myrtaceae or Myrtle family are a family of dicotyledon plants, placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, clove, guava, feijoa, allspice, and eucalyptus belong here. All species are woody, with essential oils, and flower parts in multiples of four or five... (Myrtle Family) |
Malay apple |
| ''ʻOʻa | Bischofia javanica Bischofia javanica Bischofia javanica is a plant species of the family Phyllanthaceae. It and the related B. polycarpa are the only two members of genus and tribe... |
Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae, the Spurge family are a large family of flowering plants with 300 genera and around 7,500 species. Most are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are also shrubs or trees. Some are succulent and resemble cacti.... (Splurge Family) |
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| ''ʻOfe, ʻOfe Samoa | Schizostachyum glaucifolium Schizostachyum glaucifolium Schizostachyum glaucifolium, common name Polynesian ohe, is a species of bamboo.-Distribution:This species is native to the South-Central Pacific, from French Polynesia to the Marquesas Islands and Society Islands in Tahiti, as well as the Southwestern Pacific in American Samoa and Fiji.It is... |
Poacea (Grass Family) | Polynesian bamboo |
| Ogoogo, Ogoogo toto | Laportea interrupta | Urticaceae Urticaceae Urticaceae, or the nettle family, is a family of flowering plants. The family name comes from the genus Urtica . Urticaceae includes a number of well-known and useful plants, including the aforementioned nettles, Ramie , māmaki , and ajlai .The family includes approximately 2600 species, grouped... (Nettle Family) |
Island nettle |
| Ogoogo tea, Ogoogo sina, Ogoogo pa'epa'e | Acalypha lanceolata | Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae, the Spurge family are a large family of flowering plants with 300 genera and around 7,500 species. Most are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are also shrubs or trees. Some are succulent and resemble cacti.... (Spurge Family) |
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| Pate | Coleus scutellarioides | Lamiaceae Lamiaceae The mints, taxonomically known as Lamiaceae or Labiatae, are a family of flowering plants. They have traditionally been considered closely related to Verbenaceae, but in the 1990s, phylogenetic studies suggested that many genera classified in Verbenaceae belong instead in Lamiaceae... (Mint Family) |
Coleus |
| Polo feu | Capsicum frutescens Capsicum frutescens Capsicum frutescens is a species of chili pepper that includes the following cultivar and varieties:*Piri piri, also called African Bird's Eye or African devil* Kambuzi pepper, Malawian pepper*Malagueta pepper*Tabasco pepper, used to make Tabasco sauce... |
Solanaceae Solanaceae Solanaceae are a family of flowering plants that include a number of important agricultural crops as well as many toxic plants. The name of the family comes from the Latin Solanum "the nightshade plant", but the further etymology of that word is unclear... (Nightshade Family) |
Chilli pepper |
| Poumuli | Flueggea flexuosa | Phyllanthaceae Phyllanthaceae Phyllanthaceae is a family of flowering plants in the eudicot order Malpighiales. It is most closely related to the family Picrodendraceae. The Phyllanthaceae are most numerous in the tropics, with many in the south temperate zone, and a few ranging as far north as the middle of the north temperate... |
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| Pua Fiti | Plumeria rubra Plumeria rubra Plumeria rubra is a deciduous plant species belonging to the genus Plumeria. Its common names are Red Frangipani, Common Frangipani, Temple Tree, or simply Plumeria... |
Apocynaceae Apocynaceae The Apocynaceae or dogbane family is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas.Many species are tall trees found in tropical rainforests, and most are from the tropics and subtropics, but some grow in tropical dry, xeric environments. There are also perennial herbs... (Dogbane Family) |
Plumeria, frangipani |
| Pua Samoa, Tiare | Gardenia taitensis Gardenia taitensis Gardenia taitensis is a species of plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is an evergreen tropical shrub that grows to 4 m tall, it has glossy dark green leaves that are oppositely arranged along the stem. The flower is creamy white, pinwheel-shaped with 5 to 9 lobes and very fragrant... |
Rubiaceae Rubiaceae The Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants, variously called the coffee family, madder family, or bedstraw family. The group contains many commonly known plants, including the economically important coffee , quinine , and gambier , and the horticulturally valuable madder , west indian jasmine ,... (Coffee Family) |
Tahitian gardenia |
| Pua taunofo | Allamanda cathartica Allamanda cathartica Allamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius.... |
Apocynaceae Apocynaceae The Apocynaceae or dogbane family is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas.Many species are tall trees found in tropical rainforests, and most are from the tropics and subtropics, but some grow in tropical dry, xeric environments. There are also perennial herbs... (Dogbane Family) |
Golden trumpet |
| Salato | Dendrocnidge harveyi | Urticacea (Nettle Family) | Stinging nettle tree |
| Seasea | Syzygium corynocarpum | Myrtaceae Myrtaceae The Myrtaceae or Myrtle family are a family of dicotyledon plants, placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, clove, guava, feijoa, allspice, and eucalyptus belong here. All species are woody, with essential oils, and flower parts in multiples of four or five... (Myrtle Family) |
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| Soi | Dioscorea bulbifera Dioscorea bulbifera Dioscorea bulbifera, the Air potato, is a yam species. It is also known as Varahi in Sanskrit, Kaachil in Malayalam and Dukkar Kand in Marathi. The Air potato plant is native to Africa and Asia.-Description:... |
Dioscoreaceae Dioscoreaceae Dioscoreaceae is a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants, with about 750 species in eight or nine genera. The best-known member of the family is the Yam .... (Yam Family) |
Bitter yam |
| Tagitagi, Tagitagi Samoa | Polyscias fruticosa Polyscias fruticosa right|thumb|Polyscias guilfoylei and Polyscias fruticosaPolyscias fruticosa, or Ming Aralia, is a perennial dicot evergreen shrub or dwarf tree native to India. The plant grows fairly slowly but can reach up to 1 to 2 meters in height. The leaves are of a dark green pigment, glossy in texture, and... |
Araliaceae Araliaceae Araliaceae is a family of flowering plants, also known as the Aralia family or Ivy family. The family includes 254 species of trees, shrubs, lianas and perennial herbaceous plants into 2 subfamilies... (Panax Family) |
Panax, ginseng |
| Taipoipoi | Geniostoma repestre | Loganiaceae Loganiaceae Loganiaceae are a family of flowering plants classified in order Gentianales. The family includes 13 genera, distributed around the world's tropics.Earlier treatments of the family have included up to 29 genera... (Logania Family) |
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| Talafalu | Micromelum minutum | Rutaceae Rutaceae Rutaceae, commonly known as the rue or citrus family, is a family of flowering plants, usually placed in the order Sapindales.Species of the family generally have flowers that divide into four or five parts, usually with strong scents... (Citrus Family) |
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| Talie | Terminalia catappa Terminalia catappa Terminalia catappa is a large tropical tree in the Leadwood tree family, Combretaceae. The tree has been spread widely by humans and the native range is uncertain. It has long been naturalised in a broad belt extending from Africa to Northern Australia and New Guinea through Southeast Asia and... |
Combretaceae Combretaceae Combretaceae is a family of flowering plants in the order Myrtales. The family includes about 600 species of trees, shrubs, and lianas in 18 genera. The family includes the leadwood tree, Combretum imberbe. Three genera, Conocarpus, Laguncularia and Lumnitzera, grow in mangrove habitats .... (Tropical Island Family) |
Tropical almond |
| Taro Samoa | Colocasia esculenta Colocasia esculenta Colocasia esculenta is a tropical plant grown primarily for its edible corms, the root vegetables whose many names include Taro and Eddoe. It is believed to be one of the earliest cultivated plants.-Description:Rhizomes of different shapes and sizes... |
Araceae Araceae Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like bract. Also known as the Arum family, members are often colloquially... (Arum Family) |
Taro Taro Taro is a common name for the corms and tubers of several plants in the family Araceae . Of these, Colocasia esculenta is the most widely cultivated, and is the subject of this article. More specifically, this article describes the 'dasheen' form of taro; another variety is called eddoe.Taro is... |
| Teuila | Alpinia purpurata | Zingiberaceae Zingiberaceae Zingiberaceae, or the Ginger family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of aromatic perennial herbs with creeping horizontal or tuberous rhizomes, comprising ca. 52 genera and more than 1300 species, distributed throughout tropical Africa, Asia, and the Americas.Many species are important... (Ginger Family) |
Red ginger. (national flower of Samoa Samoa Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in... ) |
| Teve | Amorphophallus paeoniifolius Amorphophallus paeoniifolius Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, the Elephant foot yam or Whitespot giant arum or Stink lily, is a tropical tuber crop that offers excellent scope for adoption in the tropical countries as a cash crop due to its production potential and popularity as a vegetable in various delicious cuisines.Elephant... |
Araceae Araceae Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like bract. Also known as the Arum family, members are often colloquially... (Aroid Family) |
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| Tipolo | Citrus medica | Rutaceae Rutaceae Rutaceae, commonly known as the rue or citrus family, is a family of flowering plants, usually placed in the order Sapindales.Species of the family generally have flowers that divide into four or five parts, usually with strong scents... (Citrus Family) |
Citron, lemon |
| Togo, Togotogo | Centella asiatica Centella asiatica Centella asiatica is a small herbaceous annual plant of the family Mackinlayaceae or subfamily Mackinlayoideae of family Apiaceae, and is native to India, Sri Lanka, northern Australia, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Melanesia, Papua New Guinea, and other parts of Asia... |
Apiaceae Apiaceae The Apiaceae , commonly known as carrot or parsley family, is a group of mostly aromatic plants with hollow stems. The family is large, with more than 3,700 species spread across 434 genera, it is the sixteenth largest family of flowering plants... (Carrot Family) |
Asiatic pennywort |
| Tolo | Sacharum officinarum | Poaceae Poaceae The Poaceae is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called grasses, although the term "grass" is also applied to plants that are not in the Poaceae lineage, including the rushes and sedges... (Grass Family) |
Sugarcane |
| U'a | Brousonnetia papyrifera | Moraceae Moraceae Moraceae — often called the mulberry family or fig family — are a family of flowering plants comprising about 40 genera and over 1000 species. Most are widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, less so in temperate climates... (Mulberry Family) |
Paper mulberry Paper Mulberry The Paper Mulberry is a tree in the family Moraceae, native to eastern Asia. Other names include Dak, Halibun, Kalivon, Kozo, and Tapacloth tree.It is a deciduous tree growing to tall... , used in making tapa Tapa cloth Tapa cloth is a bark cloth made in the islands of the Pacific Ocean, primarily in Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, but as far afield as Niue, Cook Islands, Futuna, Solomon Islands, Java, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Hawaii... |
| Ufi | Boerhavia repens | Nyctaginaceae Nyctaginaceae Nyctaginaceae, the Four O'Clock Family, is a family of around 33 genera and 290 species of flowering plants, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, with a few representatives in temperate regions... ( Four O'Clock Family) |
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| ''ʻUlu | Artocarpus altilis | Moraceae Moraceae Moraceae — often called the mulberry family or fig family — are a family of flowering plants comprising about 40 genera and over 1000 species. Most are widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, less so in temperate climates... (Mulberry Family) |
Breadfruit tree |
| Usi | Euodia hortensis | Rutaceae Rutaceae Rutaceae, commonly known as the rue or citrus family, is a family of flowering plants, usually placed in the order Sapindales.Species of the family generally have flowers that divide into four or five parts, usually with strong scents... (Citrus Family) |
Island musk |
| Vao apulupulu | Chamaesyce hirta | Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae, the Spurge family are a large family of flowering plants with 300 genera and around 7,500 species. Most are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are also shrubs or trees. Some are succulent and resemble cacti.... (Spurge Family) |
Garden spurge |
| Vao vai | Peperomia pellucida Peperomia pellucida Peperomia pellucida is an annual, shallow-rooted herb, usually growing to a height of about 15 to 45 cm. it is characterized by succulent stems, shiny, heart-shaped, fleshy leaves and tiny, dot-like seeds attached to several fruiting spikes. It has a mustard-like odor when crushed. The family... |
Piperaceae Piperaceae The Piperaceae, also known as the pepper family, is a large family of flowering plants. The group contains roughly 3,610 currently accepted species in five genera. The vast majority of peppers can be found within the two main genera: Piper and Peperomia .Members of the Piperaceae may be small... (Pepper Family) |
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| Vavae | Ceiba pentandra | Malvaceae Malvaceae Malvaceae, or the mallow family, is a family of flowering plants containing over 200 genera with close to 2,300 species. Judd & al. Well known members of this family include okra, jute and cacao... (Mallow Family) |
Kapok |
| Vi | Spondias dulcis | Anacardiaceae Anacardiaceae Anacardiaceae are a family of flowering plants bearing fruits that are drupes and in some cases producing urushiol, an irritant. Anacardiaceae include numerous genera with several of economic importance. Notable plants in this family include cashew , mango, poison ivy, sumac, smoke tree, and marula... (Cashew Family) |
Polynesian plum, Otaheite apple |
| Vi vao | Physalis angulata Physalis angulata Physalis angulata is a widely-distributed herbaceous annual plant with common name of Fisalia, belonging to the nightshade family Solanaceae. It is known by several names, including Cutleaf groundcherry, Wild tomato, Camapu and Winter cherry... |
Solanaceae Solanaceae Solanaceae are a family of flowering plants that include a number of important agricultural crops as well as many toxic plants. The name of the family comes from the Latin Solanum "the nightshade plant", but the further etymology of that word is unclear... (Nightshade Family) |
Wild cape gooseberry |
See also
- List of protected areas of Samoa
- National Park of American SamoaNational Park of American SamoaThe National Park of American Samoa is a national park on the American territory of American Samoa, distributed across three separate islands: Tutuila, Ofu-Olosega, and Ta‘ū. The park includes coral reefs and rain forest and is popular for hiking, snorkeling, and scuba diving, although the primary...
- Central Savai'i RainforestCentral Savai'i RainforestThe Samoan tropical moist forests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in the Samoan Islands. They cover an area of .The Central Savai'i Rainforest, comprising an area of 72,699 hectares on the island of Savai'i in the Samoan Islands, is the largest continuous patch of rainforest in...
, largest continuous patch of rainforest in PolynesiaPolynesiaPolynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs... - List of birds of Samoa
- List of mammals of Samoa
- IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesIUCN Red ListThe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
External links
- http://www.mnre.gov.ws/Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, SamoaSamoaSamoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
.] - http://americansamoa.gov/departments/asepa/american-samoa-environmental-protection-agencyAmerican SamoaAmerican SamoaAmerican Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
Environment Protection Agency] - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Protected Areas
- http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:voiXKSBeZG0J:www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPS/pgrfa/pdf/samoa.pdf+Samoan+plant+names&hl=en&gl=nz&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiAq_DMu6jc_v2-wUc1Pr2M5MroEMo0L4vgB64swHPay7rCV9FD_NSrJUMuN8lwvuICtxtKjka3rj1DnAeVICXV1C2FLvJqqrFJbl3eohmEYZQ0w5rFBEc4ozhRP1Rz430OjN5U&sig=AHIEtbSlcpPDmRiLZPvMn2Joz-uw2X0nVA Samoa: Country Report to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations) International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources, (Leipzig, 1996);Report prepared by Seve T. Imo, William J. Cable, Apia, October, 1995.
- http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-TuvAcco-t1-body1-d16.htmlKava:its ceremonial use, An Account of Samoan History up to 1918 by Teo TuvaleTeo TuvaleTeo Tuvale was a significant Samoan historian who served terms as Chief Justice and Secretary to Government in Samoa during the era of colonialism....
.] - Samoa Biodiversity Profile - International Treaty, Convention on Biological DiversityConvention on Biological DiversityThe Convention on Biological Diversity , known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty...